Rail-supporting device.



M. J. WiGHTMAN.

Rm SUPPORHNG DEVICE.

APPLICATION FLE l^N.12,19|4H 1,1 83,261. Patented May 16, 1916.

4 SHETS-SHEET 2.

, M. l. WIGHTMAN. RAIL SUPPORTING DEViCE.

APPLICANON FILED 1AN.12,1914.

1 ,l 83,26 1 Patented May 16, 1916.

4 SHEETS-$11111 3- /NVENTR M. l. WIGHTMAN.

RAIL SUPPORTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION mso 1AN.12.1914.

1,183,261- Patent-ed May16,1916.

4 SHEETSA-SHEET 4 through holes in the tie 19 as indicated in the drawings.

To prevent the rail 13 from moving in its lengthwise direction with respect to the clamping members 17. 17 I have provided a pin 2l which extends through the web of the rail 15 to project each side therefrom into a recess provided in each ot said clamping members 17, 17 such pin 21, however, under some conditions may be dispensed with.

Fig. 3 illustrates a device that is substantially similar to the device of Figs. 1 and except that the rail l2 embodied therein is ot the type known as a double headed rail. which may be renewed by turning it upside down when one ot the heads becomes worn.

The devices oll 1, 2 and 3 may be employed in securing a single rail to a tie, as to thel tie 15), as when such single rail extends iroln a crossing` frog or switch-point.

Fig. 4 illust ates a plan ot' construction whereby two rails that are disposed substantially parallel to each other may be held permanently in a rigid relationshil') with each other by the application oi the prin ciple involved in the construction ot an arch. supporting elements that are similar to the supporting elements ol the devices ot Figs. l, 2 and 3 being employed. as for instance. a supporting base 23. the tie 19, clamping members 2l and bolts 2U, while between the rails L. 5 is disposed a block 26 which serves. like the keystone of an arch. to coart with the clamping members 24 and the side flanges 7 ol the base-plate 23 to rigidly support said rails 25, 2.7 above the top surface oi the base-plate 23 as shown, such block 2t? engaging with the under surfaces olf the heads and the top surfaces of the fiangcs o1 the :uliaeent sides ot' the rails 25. 25, in an obvious manner as shown.

Fig. 5 illustrates a rail 2S supported in association with a guardrail 2l), which guard-rail 2U is disposed at a higher elevation than the rail 2H, upon which the wheels ol a train may travel, whereby such guardrail 2%) may engage with the outer side ot' the flange ot a. wheel to pre/ent the tread otl such vheel from leaving thc rail 2S.

ln thf. xstructure of Fig. 5 the block 30 and the members 31, Ill, slightly differ in form t'rI m the block 2li and the clamping member 2l. 24 ot' Fig. 4, but their function or purpose obviously is the same.

In Fig. G I have shown a structure wherein is embodied a guard-rail 32, whose crosssection is rectangular in form, supported in association with a rail 33, a clamping member 34, a block 35 and base-plate 36 which rests on a tie 19, such guardrail 32 acting also as a clamping member, like one of the elements ot' an arch, while the rail serves a keystone of such arch whereby the. said `ail 33, the block 35 and the guard-rail 32 may be supported above the top surface of the base-plate 36.

Obviously a structure of Fig. 6 involves the same principle as does the structure of Figs. 4. and 5.

In Figs. 7 I have illustrated a frog embodying the intersecting portions of two rails that cross 011e another obliquely, in the construction ot' which frog is involved the principle applied in building a dome and in which are combined the elementary structures of the preceding figures to support the component rails of such frog. In srch Fig. 7 a base-plate 37 (which is more clearly shown in perspective by 'a view on a reduced scale in Fig. 8) is provided with four upwardly projecting lugs 38, 39, 4() and 4l, the inner surface of each of which is outwardly inclined, and above said base-plate 37 are rails 42 and 43 which are disposed in angular positions to cross each other in a well known manner, which rails are supported in their' positions above the baseplate 37 by clamping members 44, 45, 46 and 47 of such angular Jforms as correspmid with the angular positions of said rails 42 and 43, the clamping members 44 and .45 eXtend ing from the lugs 38 and 41, respectively, to engage with the heads and flanges of rails 42 and 43, while the clamping members 46 and 47 extend troni lugs 39 and 40, respectively, to engage with the heads and flanges of the opposite sides ot' said rails 42 and 43 whereby such rails 42 and 43 conjointly constitute the keystone of a dome, while the clamping members 44, 45, 46 and 47 act as voussoirs. In Fig. 14 I have shown in cross-section on broken line ac of Fig. 7, the arrangement of the parts of the frog whereby said rails 42 and 43 are sustained in their position above the base-plate 37. Thus it is seen that the structure of Fig. 7, in etl'ect, is a dome that embodies an arched relationship of the parts from side to Side and from end to end. In this structure every point along either rail occupies a wedging or keystone position in a separate transverse arch, ot' the type shown in Fig. 1, or in Fig. 4, and by association of each of. such arches with all others therein` any pressure exerted at any point upon either of the said rails is simultaneously transferred to and substantially duplicated in the other. Any movement of, or within` the structure is, therefore, as a unit, the weight upon the near or supporting portion of either rail operating, through the structure, to equally depress all other points therein, whereby to maintain a permanent practical alinement of the rail heads. It will thus be obvious that all parts of this structure are self-ad justing and that wear or abrasion at any of the supporting bearings is autonnitieally taken up by self-adjustment. thus holding every eleiiiit of tlm structure continuingly freie. from relative motion.

Inv Fig. 9 have bhon'n one .half of a. 'ht aiiglefl railroad crossing which eiiihm his pirla haring a imno i'elaLion lille the Hai-ta, howi in Fig. merit. thai Such parts :ire ahaptml .for rails which crw-5 at right angl il) mi@ anmhifr. li: Said Fig. 9 circular haw-plaies lh'. lh are wich prm'irled h iipxvaaflllj.' projvingj rnrwd lugs 49, 5l). 3l anffl .32 ahora which are dispersed main line i" ll rails 523. 3l and 55 together with gnarfl-rail,\ 5r., 5.'. 5H, 5f) unil GT and clamping i'. s Nl, lll. 412, fill. (il, (35 and {il} all (if n'hirh raila arev wlipnrual iii their positions hi' nipin;` invinla-rhl HH. (Si), T() and Tl whirh ii\\i 1:cti\il cxlcnfl lil-turen the lugs if). I .3l ainl ,ri if; vngago with the heads and ilanggvz n' the raihA n'hirh rcapectircly ar@ nuai'v tu 1hr-in.

Fig. lil hf.' ai; rniargi rua m-rtimial rien' n hrull'rn liin 1. f/ nl" .l ru. fl. rhmw the ar i'angrinvnt nl parir; rinhmliril in ih@ .loinelilal slrnrtnra whcrvin a damping lilocli (liapomml lwtnrrn ih(l railh` ill alnl 5T may he rrg'arilcrl an wrving as a lujfrtmlc of saill lmina whihl a narrun'vr rlainpingg lilurl T that is ilisposwl huin'fern rails Gl) ainl 5l, lngcthrr with ihr clamping' nnnihers TU and 7l and the rails 30, 5l aiul 5T ina),v ha 'lgarddd as ronsrioirs.

llaf-h nl" thiflaniliing nimnhcrs4 (3H, (3U, 70

'and 7l are holtrfl to their respective bascin Fig. l() I have indicated a rml 82 that niav vxtunil through hnlvs in the wehs of rails (3l). 5l anfl 5T ainl thrnng'h thu clamping hhrrhwy i P i anal il to nrojort itsl cmlS into rvrrsrws l'uri'nml in lhry clampingr incinhiers 7l) and Tl. whirl rml 5; may svrrr to prv-- wilt an vmln'isv, inm'rxnvn. nl' any ril' llnl raih,4 willi resin-rl to thi cirriilar hash- ]ilatfr 4S.

In Fig. il l hair shown thv. ini) raila T53. 7.3 nl: a 'lrwi, rail\\':.-\-rarl rmssingl al righi ang'lvs anothrr rail U3 thai, maj(y runiilntu mw ol thv rails; (il annthrr rail\\';iI\'-tr:u:l tlm inlvisi-rling' portions ol' \\hi fh rails :irc supported hv: rvclangrnlar frm.;V rnihmlying inv inrrntiun nimm parts arr asroriatwl in arrrn'ilaim with thv prinriphl inwilvml in thv rnnstrnction mi' a (lwnir. linl auch rrrlan- ,guiar Trials. as xhmrn. arr partirnlarli' :ulaplwl l'fir slrrvl. r:.il\\a\v rruss'inu'x. ln snrh Vig. ll ihn laiihplatvs TT. 'TT ar(l rarh prrn'iih-l nilh ings '7% fli\.iif :\,f.wl lo (-xlrnll npn'anllr. mir un vafh rnrnrr nl. varh of thv hasvrhlalw TT. T7. ih(x innrr l'arr nl' varh nl' hiya TH livin; ldiifhllv inrlinwl. ax Shown inmirlrarlr in l"i;f. l2 ai .anrh anglv ihay hrir l'rirlinnal vngag'rnirnt \\'ilh (.hv iin|iinging nwhilwrs: will hohl ih(l Saill iin-naiIf'l'S :I ffziinJ. rrhuwri' :unl inalv ihrv inlirvy siria'tnrr inariir-allv inlwgral, 'llw intii' seating portions of' thvy rails 75 ainl 7G are Cispobed above this liaw'platv TT, and ,5criirerl in such iiosiLimi h r angular clamping hlm-k if). if) aiul blh MK); thv rlainping hlm-lvy Til. TU Carli vcxie-nrling l'roni Ll c inner lilil'zirr 'y nl iw Vespri-mirc lng Tr. 'ih ih@ hcailrs and llanfhflsf, nl' the :nl iawni wir nl' thc (crawling: rails 13 and. Ti? ai. ihn gmini (if their juin-,Inria ainl thvrlanaiiing' hhirlis Hl?, Si) farli iinilai'li'- lisp-naal niihA rcspufi; n iis rwlprriiw ing TH' ain! ihr railwI TJ and T43. vxrvpt that Carli nl hil vwill rlainliing hlm'l-:s SU. Nl i5 hrm iilwl with :i ria-ws in its nliprr and inncr :Shiv to rcifri'if' :i liar.. profvrahli ol harilriwil slvrl. that inni' hv tcrincfl a "riscr hlm-lq" Si that is listpusml in vxivnil l'rmn inv damping hlmclc "ll to thu ailjacont ('lainpin" hlm'k Fill if a ling' u lil. within Snrh rvr ur mig-agi with lnnmlrr snrl'arv ol' ilnicail of (hr rail T. \\liil(l ilu. lmltnni nrl'zn-f: nl. rarh nl' thu rlainping hlnrlil N). Hl) vn;'a;fr,-4 with tim tu!) ,--nrl'arr nl thv llang'h rill Awill rail T3.

Fig'. .l hy a iwrspi-rtiw rirw inurll clearly Shows th(l forni m ihr riwr hlnrh' Sl whirh .www hr its; pmiifin lo nizainiain ihn wright ol" a whwl hr viil'akling' nirh huls llaHLYv wln'n saill 'whml ix running mvr ihr mit a\\'a\' portion m thil lnafls nl saiil rail# T3 an l 7l? :it ihr imini` nl' hoir i|itvr rrli inwhi-rihv thvy rrznl (if a n'hwl nizw alnars hr: niaintainil at the sain@ rlvration a5 is lh(x top snrl'aru 0l" the rail nlmn which it intravfiling.

lt will lwsrrnlivrcfcrring'imFig.1l that` ihr rim-r hlm-lig Si arvy hrhl l'rmn longitudinal liwlari-invnt ln' thv illrninfr ol tlwir mitm' vials. ainl nlwionslv fanali rist-r blorks S1 rraililv ma\r he rmilarwl hy new mins when worn hr thu ai-tin nl" nhl-0l flz'ings.

il'hal I claim iS:

l. ln a .'ilriirtnri nf th@ claw flonfrihml. ih(l rrnnlrinatiun with a hawplatti haringr ninrarf'llr hrnhcting' high. nl' ino railsy (lisimswl lu (Nirnll mrr thil mn snraro nl iaid hasvrnlatv. a lri' hlfwlc iliaiifwl hvl'n'vvn will um rail in :i gmsiiiwn im Ongi-ig@ willi lh(` lwafhl anil llangr nl' ihr :hilarant sirlrs ulkahl iwf, rails :unl a flaniping nivinlwr flis- |n swl tu vngaL'r with lh(- hrsnl and ilanglo'of ihr univr ahhl if val-h rail anfl if; vxtvnil hvrvl'rmn lf rrsi 'against una nl' .will hrm: hcw-hr saifl iwi lilor'hy inav :lf-t. lila. lhvlni sioni" of an arrli \\hil I@ahi raih:y arnl Sahl rlalnliing nwnihrw mar' aci, lilu ihn VOUS-4 .L'oir fi';\:1i l arfh lo vn.atain Haiil imi raiis iii a iixml insilinn ahm'r th@ lun of' .wahl hawplaie.

i). lin a Siria-larix ni" ihrx r'lass flrarrihsal. llw mnihinaliwn will; a amphi-ling haar-- plain n'hirh i.'-: prurilml willi ng'ixiarllly prniwling higx. mi lvm railrmwl rails (liswisfifl su that. tho axis of inv nl h\ai l rails intor- Svrls ihr axis mi' i'hoy olhvr 0l' I@aifl railS` at a point over the rvntral portion if Said hageplatc. while the bottmii Sui-faces 0'1"' Said rails stone of a dome while said clamping members may act like the voussoirs of a dome to support said intersecting portions of said two rails in a fixed position above said baseplate.

3. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a supportingr base-plate which is provided with a plurality of upwardly projecting lugs, of two railroad rails that are disposed so that the axis of one of said rails intersects the axis of the other of said rails at a point over said baseplate, each of said rails having a wheelflange gap disposed adjacent to the point ol its intersection with the other of said rails, two riser blocks each of which is disposed over said base-plate in engagement with one side of the head of a different one of said rails with the surface of its highest portion opposite the wheel-flange gap of such different one of said rails, and angular clamping blocks, each disposed to engage with a different one of said lugs and to extend therefrom to support said rails and said riser blocks in a dome-like manner in a lixed position above the top surface of said base-plate.

4. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a plurality of rails disposed with their longitudinal axes in different planes, supporting members engaging said rails, a riser block engaging one or more of said rails and one or more of said supporting members and means for resolving any pressure exerted on any one of said rails into equal pressures between saidv supporting members and all of said rails.

5. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a plurality of rails disposed with their longitudinal axes in different planes, supporting members engaging said rails and means for resolving any pressure exerted on any one of said rails into equal pressures between said supporting members and all of said rails.

6. ln structure of the class described, the combination with a plurality of rails disposed with their longitudinal axes inten secting, a base-plate provided with upturned lugs, liller blocks engaging said rails and means for resolving any pressure exerted on any of said rails into equal pressures between said filler blocks and said rails.

7, ln a structure of the class described,the combination with a plurality of rails disposed with their longitudinal axes in dil'erent planes and supported in a plurality of arches, and means for equalizing the pressures in all of said arches.

8. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a plu 1ality of rails disposed with their longitudinal axes in dfferent nlanes filler blocks en a in saidv l 7 rails, a supporting base-plate, and means associated therewith whereby said filler blocks are caused to be pressed laterally t0- ward said rails under the weight of a passing wheel load.

9. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a plurality of rails disposed with their longitudinal axes in vdifferent planes, supporting members engaging said rails, a. base-plate and means for directing a mechanically centering inward pressure upon said supporting members.

10. 1n a structure of the classl described, the combination with a plurality of rails disposed with their longitudinal axes in different planes, supporting` means and 'com pression means so disposed 'that a wheel load on any one of said rails shall be. resolved into an inward pressure exerted by the said supporting means equally against all rails.

l1. In a structure of the class described, the combination with two rails disposed with their longitudinal axes in different planes, clamping members suppi'nting one of said rails in an arch and means for equalizing the pressure of said clamping members against both of said rails.

In witness whereof l hereunto subscribe my name this twenty-sixth day of Decem ber A. D., 19115.

ME VLF il. lVIGHTMAN.'

YV itnesses F. C. MA'rnnNr, A. I'lAsKrNs. 

